Finasteride

Finasteride is a tablet used to treat male pattern hair loss (androgenic alopecia). Finasteride is the generic version of Propecia. This means that there is no difference between the 2 treatments except the name, price and packaging: both work in the same way.

Finasteride works by preventing hair follicle shrinkage, slowing down hair loss and promoting hair regrowth.

Finasteride’s active ingredient, also called ‘finasteride’, prevents hair loss by stopping testosterone to turn into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in the body, a molecule that causes hair loss. By reducing DHT levels, finasteride helps protect your hair.

Finasteride belongs to a group of medicines called ‘type 2 5-alpha reductase inhibitors’, which can help promote hair growth.

How effective is finasteride?

Clinical studies over 5 years have found finasteride to be effective for 48% of men compared to 25% of men treated with a placebo. Another study found that over 45% of men saw improvements in hair growth within just one year.

How long does finasteride take to work?

You can expect to see improvement in hair growth after around 3 to 6 months when taking finasteride. You will see the full effect of the medication after 12 months of taking finasteride.

Does finasteride work for a receding hairline?

Yes. Studies have shown finasteride to be an effective treatment for men experiencing frontal male pattern hair loss (receding hair line). Finasteride works by reducing the amount of DHT produced by testosterone, which attach to hair follicles on the scalp, helping the front and middle part of your scalp to regrow hair. However, results vary from person to person.

Can finasteride regrow hair?

Yes, for some people. A long-term (5-year) global study found that finasteride made durable improvements in scalp hair growth. Although the amount of hair regrown varies from person to person.

Can finasteride thicken hair?

Yes. Studies have found long-term finasteride treatment led to increased hair weight and hair thickness by 46%. In some men, hair thickness increased more than hair growth.

Take 1 finasteride tablet orally once each day. Make sure you:

• swallow it whole with water
• take it with or without food
• take it around the same time each day
• take all tablets as instructed, continuing even after you begin to see improvements

When should I take finasteride?

It does not matter what time of day you take your finasteride tablet, just make sure that it is around the same time each day.

For example, if you begin taking finasteride at 5pm on a Sunday, continue to take it around 5pm on Monday, Tuesday, and so on.

How much finasteride to take (dosage)

You should be prescribed to take 1 oral tablet containing 1mg for hair loss daily. 5mg is typically prescribed for an enlarged prostate.

How long do you need to take finasteride for?

Finasteride is usually taken long-term (for several months or years) to facilitate the hair growth process, which takes time. Even if you begin to see improvements, you should continue to take your tablets as instructed by your doctor.

What happens when I stop taking finasteride?

If you stop taking the tablets without consulting your doctor, your hair may start to fall out again or might not grow back the way it was growing and improving while taking finasteride.

Finasteride is available on prescription privately from GPs and trusted and regulated online doctor services like ZAVA online doctor.

Can I buy finasteride online?

Yes. You can request finasteride treatment from ZAVA. Trusted and regulated providers, such as ZAVA online doctor, can approve finasteride treatment online. To request finasteride from ZAVA, simply:

1. Complete a short medical questionnaire to provide our doctors with information about your health and medical history.
2. Log in or sign up and make payment.
3. Our doctors will assess your responses and approve finasteride if it is safe and appropriate for you.
4. Your medication will be delivered safely and discreetly to your door.

Can I buy finasteride over the counter?

No. Finasteride is only available via prescription. An alternative over-the-counter medication for hair loss treatment is Minoxidil which is available in the form of an oral tablet, liquid, or foam to apply on your scalp.

Can I get finasteride on the NHS?

No. Finasteride is not currently available on the NHS for hair loss prescription, it is only available to request privately. This means instead of paying the normal NHS prescription fee, you will need to pay full price for your medication.

Although they can’t give NHS prescriptions for finasteride, NHS GPs can give private prescriptions instead.

Like all medications, finasteride may cause side effects – however, not everyone will experience them.

Often, side effects for finasteride are temporary and may go away with time. If you experience any side effects with finasteride, you should speak with your doctor and they may suggest an alternative medication.

Common side effects:

• problems with getting an erection (erectile dysfunction)
• little interest in sex
• problems with ejaculating (little or no semen)

You should speak to your doctor if you are experiencing the common side effect:

• depression

Uncommon side effects:

• palpitations
• persistent decrease in sex drive after discontinuation of treatment
• persistent problems with ejaculation after discontinuation of treatment
• infertility and/or poor quality semen
• changes in the way your liver works
• anxiety
• suicidal thoughts
• swelling or tenderness in breast tissue (lumps, swelling, nipple discharge)
• pain in testicles

Contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention (go to A&E or dial 999) if you experience an allergic reaction:

• swelling of lips, face, tongue and throat
• difficulty swallowing
• lumps under your skin (hives)
• breathing difficulties

How long do finasteride side effects last?

Most symptoms of finasteride are temporary and typically go away once you stop taking it or with time. However, if you experience persistent side effects since taking and/or since you have stopped taking finasteride, you should consult your doctor and they should be able to give advice.

If you notice you are experiencing persistent lowered libido (less interest in sex) and problems getting an erection or ejaculating even after stopping taking finasteride, get in touch with your doctor.

What to do if you get finasteride side effects

Seek advice from your doctor if you experience any side effects which persist or concern you.

Depression and sexual dysfunction

Studies have found that 3% of men taking finasteride who developed depression often also experienced side effects such as erectile dysfunction, ejaculation issues and little interest in sex.

If you have experience suicidal thoughts, depression or anxiety when taking finasteride, tell your doctor. Your doctor may recommend you to stop taking the medication and offer an alternative treatment.

Erectile dysfunction

If you do not experience too many side effects when taking finasteride, but begin to have erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend to alter your dosage or suggest erectile dysfunction treatment alongside finasteride.

Breast tenderness, lumps and pain

If you experience breast tenderness, lumps, and pain, or nipple discharge, contact your doctor immediately.

Finasteride is a safe and approved treatment for hair loss in men, however it is not suitable for everybody.

You cannot take finasteride if you were assigned female at birth, or under 18.

Before requesting finasteride, inform your doctor if you:

• have depression or mood alterations
• are going to have a blood test for prostate cancer
• have low fertility
• have a family history of breast cancer
• are allergic to lactose
• cannot take sodium
• have bladder or liver problems

If you have a pregnant partner

It can harm your baby if you touch finasteride when pregnant. Finasteride also travels to the semen, making condom use necessary if your partner is pregnant.

Finasteride and other medications

Tell your doctor if you are taking, have recently taken or might take:

• finasteride
• dustasteride

Always tell your doctor what medications you are taking before requesting finasteride.

Finasteride is an effective treatment for hair loss in men, though this does not mean it is right for everybody. There are other alternatives if you feel finasteride is not right for you.

Topical finasteride vs oral finasteride

Topical finasteride has been found to be slightly more effective than oral tablets and may cause fewer side effects since the medication affects the scalp directly instead of the whole body.

Topical finasteride is a liquid solution or foam containing finasteride, which you apply to your scalp to regrow hair. Oral finasteride is a tablet you take which helps to stop testosterone from turning into DHT levels, reducing hair loss.

Both are only available to request on prescription.

Studies have found topical finasteride can significantly improve hair count, and is similar in its effect to oral finasteride. Further studies have found:

• oral finasteride to be 48% effective.
• topical finasteride to be 52% effective.

Topical finasteride only affects DHT levels in the scalp, whereas if you take oral finasteride it will reduce DHT levels in your body. This means that topical finasteride does not cause issues related to DHT levels in the body apart from your scalp.

Clinical studies have found sexual dysfunction (erectile dysfunction, low libido) for both topical and oral finasteride were relatively similar. 2.8% of patients experienced sexual dysregulation when taking topical finasteride, compared to 4.8% taking oral finasteride.

If you are experiencing side effects whilst taking oral finasteride but it is effective for hair growth, your doctor might recommend topical finasteride as it has fewer side effects. Topical finasteride has fewer side effects because it is only applied to the scalp so its side effects include (but are not limited to):

• headache
• itching
• burning
• dandruff
• red patches

Topical finasteride is not available with ZAVA online doctor.

Finasteride vs Propecia

Finasteride is the generic version of Propecia. Propecia also contains the active ingredient finasteride. This means it works in exactly the same way, the only difference between them is the price, name, and packaging.

Both finasteride and propecia have the same effectiveness and side effects.

Finasteride vs Minoxidil

Minoxidil is a topical treatment that is less effective than finasteride, but which can be taken alongside finasteride for a better chance of hair regrowth.

Minoxidil is an over-the-counter treatment which comes in the form of a shampoo, lotion, or cream to be used daily on the scalp. It is also available as an oral tablet. Minoxidil is the active ingredient in the branded over-the-counter treatment Regaine.

Oral finasteride was reported in a study over 48 weeks to be significantly more effective than minoxidil in the long-term. Further clinical evaluation comparing both finasteride and minoxidil concluded that clinical cure rates were 80% with finasteride over a year, compared to 52% with minoxidil.

However, recent clinical trials have found that oral finasteride combined with topical minoxidil to be a safe and efficacious treatment, but more studies are yet to be completed.

Finasteride vs Dutasteride

Dutasteride is a potent treatment typically sold off-label to treat androgenic-alopecia. It is sold under the brand name Avodart which is a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. While it can suppress DHT, like finasteride, it is not yet licensed to treat hair loss in the UK.

If you are still unsure whether finasteride is right for you, or if you are dissatisfied with its side effects, speak with your doctor. They can help you figure out the best solution for a safe and suitable treatment so you can feel confident.